"It's a minor pipeline, it hasn't impeded the export of oil at all," Wilson said. "Because the infrastructure of the pipelines are so old, they frequently just give way."

Insurgents aim to hamper reconstructionInsurgents have repeatedly sabotaged Iraq's crucial oil industry, its main source of income, in an effort to hamper reconstruction efforts here. The threats to the oil infrastructure have increased in recent weeks amid a violent uprising by Shiite militants in southern Iraq, where much of the oil industry is located.

The country's southern pipelines export 90 percent of Iraq's oil.

Supporters of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have threatened to sabotage Iraq's crucial oil infrastructure to protest the ongoing clashes between militants and U.S. and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf.

On Aug. 19, Shiite militants stormed the headquarters of Iraq's South Oil Co. and set it on fire.

Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said last week the fighting in Najaf has cost the country US$160 million in lost exports.

Attacks by saboteurs in July cost the government US$1 billion in oil sales over 10 days, Allawi said.

Oil exports are a key source of funding for the government's efforts to rebuild the country after years of war and devastating sanctions.